ROCKIES’ BARD COULD BE CLOSER AFTER STORYBOOK 2020»
A RIZ.» If Daniel Bard’s encore season lacks the intrigue and suspense of 2020 that will be just fine with him.
Last year at this time, the Rockies right-hander faced an uncertain future. Sure, he’d impressed the Rockies during a showcase in front of a group of major league scouts, but there were no guarantees he’d stick around.
Bard, 35, had been absent from the majors for more than seven years because of a severe case of the yips. At one point, unable to control his bouts of wildness, he came oh so close to retiring.
The biggest difference between now and then?
“This year I have a job,” he said with a self-deprecating chuckle.
Now, after his storybook comeback, he could very well be the Rockies’ closer for 2021.
Bard finished last season in that role and put up impressive numbers, posting a 3.65 ERA in 23 appearances and notching six saves in six chances. The MLB Players Association named him comeback player of the year.
“It’s kind of strange to look back and be proud of a season for once,” he said. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to be proud of a season from start to finish, and really not have to worry about the things I worried about for so long.
“Now it’s been all about keeping my body ready and keeping my mind ready, and trying to have a plan as to how to best help the team this year.”
In January 2020, Bard’s focus was all about being able to blaze a 98 mph fastball and make the scouts’ believe. It was much different this winter.
“I pretty much stuck with the Rockies’ (training) program, which was a lot of squats,” he said. “It was like, every day, just show up and do more squats, which is what I needed, especially after a couple years out of baseball. It was good total body strength.”
The 6-foot-4 Bard said he gained 12 pounds of muscle and now weighs around 212.
Bard will compete for the ninthinning role with right-hander Scott Oberg, who’s fashioning a comeback story of his own. Oberg is returning from thoracic outlet surgery, a procedure that will hopefully prevent the formation of blood clots in his right arm, a condition that has shut down his season three different times.
Asked if he’s aiming for the closer’s role, Bard replied, “I just want to pitch. Hopefully those are meaningful situations, whatever that is. We are going to have ‘Obie’ back, which is huge and I think we’ll have a way better bullpen with him out there with us.”
Like a lot of baseball fans, manager Bud Black was enthralled by Bard’s story. More than that, he grew increasingly confident in Bard as the season went on. But, Black admitted, there initially was a bit of trepidation that Bard’s wildness would rise to the surface.
“I’ll put it this way: last spring training there was probably a little of that in all of us watching this comeback unfold,” Black said. “But as each day went on, each bullpen session went on and with each batting practice session … then spring training games, then we got down to Texas and he got his first win, that lessened a great deal.”
Bard certainly wouldn’t mind being just a run-of-the-mill baseball story this year.
“Last year was amazing,” he said. “But when you’re in it, you don’t realize how crazy it is. There were times this offseason when I was able to look back and reflect on it.
“I think one thing that allowed me to be successful last year was that I just tried to keep my head down. I answered questions when I had to, but other than that I kind of got lost in my daily routine. It was hard at times, because a lot of people wanted to hear the story. But I was like, ‘I’m still living it. I still have to go out and pitch every night.’ “
Bard, who worked as a mental skills coach with Arizona before his return to baseball, has gladly imparted his knowledge and experience with his Rockies teammates. Right-handed starter Jon Gray, who’s extremely self-critical, learned a valuable lesson from Bard.
“It’s amazing to see what he’s done,” Gray said. “For him, it seemed like everything was lost and then for him to come back and still have fun is amazing. That’s what’s stuck with me this most — his ability to have fun at the field now. I think that’s really huge. That’s something I’ve learned from Daniel.”
BuLLS 120, rockEtS 100 HOUSTON» Coby White scored 24 points, and the Bulls used a big third quarter to pull away for a win over the short-handed Rockets.
Zach LaVine scored 14 of Chicago’s 46 third-quarter points, finishing with 21, as the Bulls outscored the Rockets by 20 points in the quarter to break open a tight game. Chicago had runs of 15-4 and 12-0 in the period. During that second burst, Houston missed four shots, two of which were air balls, and had a turnover.